The United States government has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on 18 Nigerians and entities for terrorism, cybercrime, and narcotics offences as part of ongoing efforts to cleans Nigeria of terror and terror financing among other crimes.

The sanctions which covers individuals and entities is coming on the heels of a raft of collaboration between Washington and Abuja  on how to deepen military cooperation with Nigeria to tame insecurity.

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC),enforcers of the sanctions, listed individuals and groups which were designated in specialised categories reflecting global terrorism (SDGT), cyber-related threats (CYBER2), and narcotics trafficking (SDNTK).

Those sanctioned with assets frozen for links to militant organisations included key figures associated with Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP), and Ansaru terror group.

Listed under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist regime were Boko Haram’s former leader, Abubakar Shekau, and ISIS-linked commanders Abu Musab al-Barnawi and Khalid al-Barnawi, alongside several associates allegedly tied to insurgent networks.

Also designated were one Salih Yusuf Adamu, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, Surajo Abu Bakr Muhammad, Abdurrahman Ado Musa, and Ali Abbas Usman Jega.

The Nigerian branch of the Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS-Nigeria) was sanctioned for alleged support of extremist operations.

The Treasury also singled out Fawzi Reda Fawaz over ties to Hezbollah-linked activity and sanctioned Amigo Supermarket in Abuja for alleged financial links to Iran-aligned networks.

The US also sanctioned five Nigerians, namely, one Nnamdi Orson Benson, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Micheal Olorunyomi, and Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh — all listed under the US CYBER2 regime for their purported roles in major cyber-enabled fraud schemes.

Two individuals, one Wole A. Ogungbuyi and Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, were designated under the Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficking Kingpin framework for alleged international drug trafficking involvement.